Mechanism for moving engines off a dead-center.



G. C. BRITTAIN.

MECHANISM FOR MOVING ENGINES OFF A DEAD CENTER. APPLICATION EILED MAYH, 1913.

1 1%,355o Patented May 25, 1915.

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G. C. BRITTAIN. MECHANISM FOR MOVING ENGINES OFF A DEAD CENTER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1913.

l mwfibfifi Patented May 25, 1915. 2 SHEETS-SHEET Z- "1 J6 Z6 Z0 i I IIIIIIHI. i t

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IIIIIIIII THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHcTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D C.

UNTTE ATE T ATTQETT FFTQE.

Gnonen o. BlnITrAIn, or OXFORD, KANSAS.

MECHANISM FOR MOVING, ENGINES OFF A DEAD-CENTER.

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Application filed. May 17, 1913.

To all whom it may ooncern Be it known that I, GEORGE C. BRITTAIN, citizen of the United States, residing at Oxford, in the county of Sumner and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Moving Engines Off a Dead-Center, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to engines and more particularly to an attachment for steam or stationary gas engines for throwing the fly wheel or the crank wheel olf a dead center for facilitating the starting of the engine.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a mechanism, simple in construction, and ellicient in operation, by means of which the fly wheel or crank wheel of an engine may be thrown ofi a dead center in a simple and easy manner and a mechanism which is especially adapted to be used in connection with large engines which would require a great amount of energy to move off a dead center or engines where access to the fly wheel of the same is difficult.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a mechanism of this nature which may be applied to any steam or stationary gas engine now upon the market, necessitating only slight alterations to the same.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention consists in such novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will'be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of refer ence designate like or corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fragment of a stationary steam engine showing the invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 only looking at the engine from a diflerent point of View; Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and, Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line i 1 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings the invention is shown applied to a portion of a stationary steam engine having a foundation or supporting frame 1 and showing the piston rod 2 connected to the cross head 3 and mounted in the guide-ways A of the engine casing. A connecting rod 5 which is of the ordinary Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Serial No. 768,322.

type commonly employed in stationary steam engines is shown pivotally connected to the cross head 3 as at 6 and to the crank wheel 7 of the engine by means of a pin 8 which is inserted through a slot 9 formed near the outer edge of the crank wheel 7 and shaped so as to conform to the curvature of the circumference of the crank wheel 7.

The crank wheel 7 is rigidly mounted upon a power shaft 10 which is mounted in bearings 11 formed upon the engine foundation 1, as is commonly the case in stationary steam engines.

A casing 12 which is disposed about the power shaft 10 of the engine passes through one of the bearings 11 and has a bar 13 rigidly connected to one end thereof. The bar 13 has a pin 8 mounted in bearings formed in the outer end of the same as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Mounted upon the inner end of the casing 12 is an eccentric 14: which controls the valves of the engine.

A collar 15 is mounted upon the casing 12 adjacent the inner side of the arm 13 and has a rod 16 pivotally connected thereto at 17 by means of an arm 18 which has its lower portion circular in shape and seated in a recess 19 which is formed in the collar 15.

An arm 20 is pivotally connected to the collar 15 by means of the ears 21 and a bolt 22 and has pivotally connected to its outer end by means of ears 23 and a bolt 24 a plate 25. The plate has pins 26 and 27 mounted in the outer ends of the same and protruding inwardly toward the inner surface of the crank wheel 7. The pin 26 is inserted through a slot 28 which is formed longitudinally in a bracket member 29, which bracket member is secured to the inner side of the crank wheel 7 as is shown at 30. The pin 27 extends through a slot 31 which is formed longitudinally within the bar 13. The pins 26 and 27 have heads 32 formed upon their inner ends which prevent the pins from moving out of the slots 28 and 31.

The rod 16 passes along the engine frame and is secured to a lever (not shown) which is placed in any position upon the engine or frame for carrying the same so that it may be conveniently reached and operated by the person running the engine. When the engine or the crank wheel 7 of the same stops upon a dead center as is shown in Fig.

1 of the drawings, the rod .16 is operated, by means of the lever (not shown) and this slides the collar 15 upon'the casing'l2 movthe member 29 is rigidly connected to the crank wheel force the bar 13 downwardly causing the pin "8 'to move within the slot 9. This will move the crank wheel 7 off the dead center and allow "the engine to easily and quickly start. When the pin 8 is forced downward to the lower end of the slot 9 and the engine again stops upon a dead center, the lever (not shown) by which the rod 16 is operated may be again "moved and this will force the pin 8 upward within the wheel 9 and again move the crank wheel 7 off a dead center.

In practical fields, certain minor features of construction, combination "and arrangement of parts may necessitate alterations to which the patentee is entitled, provided such alterations are "comprehended within the scope of what is claimed;

What is claimed is I 1. In a device of the character described, a driven crank means, a circular means for transmitting power from said crank means, said circular means having an arcuate "slot formed therein and extending parallel with the periphery thereof, "connecting means arranged in said'slot and having connection with said crankme'ans, and means for moving said connecting means and for adjusting said crank means, substantially'as described. 2. In a device of thecharacter described, a driven crank means, a circular means for transmitting" power from said crank means, said circular means having an arcuate slot formed therein and extending parallel with the periphery thereof, connecting means arranged insaid slot and having connection with j said crank means, and means .sli'dable on said circular means for movingsaid connecting means and adjusting said crank means, substantiall as described;

3; In a device'o the character described, a driven'crank means, circular means for transmitting ower from said crank means, a driven sh-af t revoluble with said circular means, said circular means having an armate slot formed thereinand extending parallel with the periphery thereof, connecting means arranged in said slot and having 'con nection with said crank means, and means slida'ble longitudinally of said driven shaft for moving'said' connecting means and adjusting said crank means, substantially as described. r 4:. As a'me'an's for starting an engine from i a dead center, a crank wheel, a powershaft,

a connecting rod,'said connecting rodbeing connected to said wheel for independent arcuate movement thereon, a casing disposed for moving said rod arcuatelyof said wheel to start the engine from a dead center. f j

5. As a means for starting an engine from a deadcenter,a'crank wheel, a power shaft,-

a connecting rod, said connecting rod being connected to said wheel for iridependent arcuate movement thereon, a casing disposed about said power'shaft, a bar connected to said connecting rod and loosely mounted upon said casing, a bracket mounted on said wheel, a plate slidably connected with said bar and said bracket, and means to move said plate for moving said rod arcuately of said wheel to start the engine from a dead center.

'6. As a means for starting an engine from ;a "dead center, a crank wheel, .a power shaft, a "connecting rod, said connecting rod being connected to said wheel for inde pendent arcuate movement thereon, a casing ablyiconnected with said slotted bar and said bracket, and :means slida-ble upon said casing to move the plate within the slots of the bar and bracket for moving said rod arcuately of said wheel to start the engine u from a dead center.

7. As a means for starting an engine from a dead center, "a crank wheel, a power shaft, a connecting rod, said connecting rod being connected to said wheel for '1nde pendent arcuate movement thereon, a casing disposed about saidpower shaft, a bar eonnected to said connecting rod, a bracket mounted on-said wheel, a plate 'slidabl'y connected with said bar and said bracket, a 'coll'ar slidably arranged on said casing, means to connect said collar with said plate, and

meansff-orsliding said collar upon said casing to imovesaid plate for moving said rod arcu'ately of said wheel'to start 'the'engine H from a dead center. 7 V

*8. Asa means for starting an enginefrom a dead center, a crank wheel having a slot formed therein, a powerv shaft, a connecting rod, a casing mounted upon said power shaft, a bar loosely mounted upon "said casing, a pin passing through saidslot and connecti ng said rod with said bar, and means slidable upon said casing for moving said pin within said slot to start the engine from a dead center. i Y

-9. As a means for moving engines olf of a dead center, a crank wheel having a slot formed therein shaped to conform to the curvature of the circumference of said crank wheel, a power shaft, a connecting rod, a 7 pin formed onsaidconnecting rod extend ing through the slot formed in said crank wheel, a bar having a longitudinal opening formed therein loosely mounted on said power shaft, said bar connected to said pin, a bracket having a longitudinal slot formed therein secured to said crank wheel, a plate having pins formed on each end thereof, said pins engaging the slots formed in said bar and said bracket, and means connected to said plate for moving the pins of said platewithin said slots whereby to actuate said connecting rod in a predetermined direction.

10. As a means for moving engines off a dead center, a crank wheel having a slot formed near the outer edge thereof and shaped so as to conform to the curvature of the circumference of said crank wheel, a power shaft, a connecting rod, a pin formed on said connecting rod and extending through the slot in said crank wheel, a bar having connection with said pin and loosely mounted on said power shaft, said bar having a longitudinal slot formed therein, a bracket having a longitudinal slot formed therein, said bracket being rigidly connected to said crank wheel and extending in a radial direction convergent to the normal position of said bar, a plate, pins formed on both ends of said plate, said pins being slidably mounted within the slots formed in said bar and said bracket, a collar slidable on said power shaft, means connected with said collar and said plate for actuating said plate whereby to move said bar in a predetermined'direction, and means connected to said collar for actuating said collar, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE C. BRITTAIN. Witnesses:

IRA ABELDGAARD, R. M. STEWART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0'." 

